hat chwi هات شوي
Algerian Darja · expression
“hat chwi” (هات شوي) is an expression in Algerian Darja meaning give me a little.
Meanings
- give me a little
- pass me that for a moment
Usage
A familiar phrase made of hat ("give, bring, pass") and chwi, a short form of chwiya ("a little"). It is used to ask for a small amount of food, drink or something else, or to ask for an object to be passed for a moment. The tone is direct and familiar, between close people; with a stranger, you add "3afak" or "ya kho". Hat is hardly conjugated: you say hat in the singular and hatou in the plural. Note: hat does not mean "to have" but "to give, to pass".
Example
هات شوي من الخبز
hat chwi mel khobz
“Give me a little bread.”
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “hat chwi” but also “hat chwiya”, “hat chouia” and “hat chwia”. No spelling is official: people write the sounds as they hear them.